Finding Text
FINDING 2022-003 Information on the federal program: Subject: Child Nutrition Cluster ? Internal Controls Federal Agency: Department of Agriculture Federal Program: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program for Children Assistance Listing Number: 10.553, 10.555, 10.559 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Procurement and Suspension and Debarment Audit Finding: Material Weakness Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 2 CFR 180.300 states: "When you enter into a covered transaction with another person at the next lower tier, you must verify that the person with whom you intend to do business is not excluded or disqualified. You do this by: (a) Checking the SAM Exclusions; or (b) Collecting a certification from that person; or (c) Adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that person." Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the Child Nutrition Program and Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirements for purchases made outside of the purchasing cooperative. Cause: The School Corporation's management had not developed a system of internal controls that would have ensured compliance with the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement for purchases made outside of the purchasing cooperative. Effect: The failure to establish internal controls could have enabled noncompliance to go undetected. If the vendor that was used outside of the purchasing cooperative would have been suspended or debarred, the failure to comply with the grant agreement and the compliance requirement could have resulted in the loss of federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs identified. Context: During the audit period, the School Corporation had purchases between $10,000 and $150,000 from two vendors which fall under the small purchase method for federal and state procurement regulations and were charged to Fund 0800 ? School Lunch Fund. For one vendor selected for testing, documentation was not presented to verify the School Corporation had performed checks to assure the vendor was not suspended or debarred prior to entering into the transaction in order to satisfy the suspended and debarment requirements. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: No Recommendation: We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish and implement control procedures to ensure compliance with the grant agreement and the Procurement and Suspension and Debarment compliance requirement. This should include ensuring suspension and debarment checks are performed and documented prior to entering into the transaction. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and has prepared a corrective action plan.